Pages

Follow by Email

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

UK draft press statement on Aleppo

The
members of the Security Council condemned the increase in violence
around Aleppo prompted by a military offensive by the Syrian
authorities launched in late April. The members further expressed
grave alarm at the intolerable suffering, death and destruction,
resulting in the deaths of up to 280 civilians in just 12 days. The
members of the Security Council reiterated the Secretary General’s
call for the Syrian parties to recommit immediately to the cessation
of hostilities and to protect civilians from t the dangers of
military operations,

The
members of the Security Council strongly condemned all attacks
directed against civilians, civilian infrastructure, and medical
facilities as violations of international humanitarian law. The
members of the Security Council expressed their outrage that on 27
April the Al Quds hospital in Aleppo was destroyed by airstrikes,
killing at least 50 people two doctors, one of whom was a
pediatrician in Aleppo, injuring dozens, and depriving many more of
lifesaving medical care. The members of the Security Council also
strongly condemned the attack, on 3 May on Al-Dabit medical facility
and the resulting casualties.

The
members of the Security Council strongly condemned all acts of
violence, attacks and threats directed against the wounded and sick,
medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in
medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as
hospital and other medical facilities in Syria.

The
members of the Security Council recalled the adoption on 3 May 2016
of resolution 2286 on healthcare in conflict, and that, under
international law, attacks intentionally directed against hospitals
and places where the sick and wounded are collected, functioning as
such , as well as attacks intentionally directed against buildings,
material, medical units and transport and personnel using the
distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions in conformity with
international law are war crimes. [PP17, healthcare resolution]

The
members of the Security Council underlined their demand in resolution
2268 that all parties to whom the cessation of hostilities applies
fulfil their commitments as outlined in the terms of the cessation,
and urged all Member States, especially ISSG members, to use their
influence with the parties to the cessation of hostilities to ensure
fulfilment of those commitments and to support efforts to create
conditions for a durable and lasting ceasefire. (based on OP 1 of R.
2268)

The
members of the Security Council look forward to the next report of
the Special Envoy on the implementation of resolutions 2254 and 2268,
including by drawing on information provided by the ISSG ceasefire
task force.